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FreedomWork’s Kibbe: GOP Needs to Realize ‘It’s OK to Be Different’

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The Republican Party still appears to be in a phase of self-examination following its disappointing results in last November’s elections, releasing a scathing internal task force report this week acknowledging that public perception of the party is at record lows and inroads must be made with young and minority voters.

FreedomWorks President and CEO Matt Kibbe says the party needs some new blood and should seek guidance in the conservative movement’s young, savvy activists who are ready and able to succeed in today’s decentralized political landscape.

During an interview with TheBlaze contributor Mallory Factor in New York City this week, Kibbe said that the Republican Party needs to bring in new talent from online media, the Tea Party and the blogosphere, while getting out of the business of picking winners and losers in primaries and among grassroots activists.

“[S]ome of these kids have tattoos, some of these kids like Ron Paul–some of them have these crazy long sideburns,” Kibbe tells Factor of the changing, decentralized power-base of the conservative movement, and in turn GOP. “And you shouldn’t be afraid of that, it’s okay. It’s okay to be different in this new world.”

In the interview posted below, Kibbe explains that the world of politics has changed from top-down control by consultants, to a bottom-up, decentralized atmosphere now where policy and campaign mechanics matter more than ever.

“I think the GOP should at least start having a conversation with the people who have demonstrated an ability to work in that online world,” Kibbe tells TheBlaze.